To Go DSLR Or Not?
- Thread starter Fireblade2K4
- Start date
You say that you are only limited by zoom so I assume (not knowing the camera or having time to read up on it) that you already have access to changing aperture and shutter speed etc.
In that case I think cykey is saying go for a compact with those same facilities, but with a longer zoom lens:
Canon S2 iS (or S3 iS due next month)
Sony H2 (due next month)
kodak P850
Panasonic FZ-30
Fuji S9500
are all decent zoom cameras but still compact/slr-like as opposed to SLR.
In that case I think cykey is saying go for a compact with those same facilities, but with a longer zoom lens:
Canon S2 iS (or S3 iS due next month)
Sony H2 (due next month)
kodak P850
Panasonic FZ-30
Fuji S9500
are all decent zoom cameras but still compact/slr-like as opposed to SLR.
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Yeah the shutter speed can be altered along with aperture size, exposure etc so it is possible to customise it already but....I want a faster focus, longer zoom and something that is not going to be limiting in these ways or any others I might find.
There is no point in my eyes buying another compact and still eventually moving to DSLR, might as well do it now as I have enough money spare.
I'd also be able to buy a lens a month so getting the right lenses won't be an issue either really.
Stu
There is no point in my eyes buying another compact and still eventually moving to DSLR, might as well do it now as I have enough money spare.
I'd also be able to buy a lens a month so getting the right lenses won't be an issue either really.
Stu
Deleted member 11679
Deleted member 11679
The advice in this thread has been so poor in places I cannot believe whats being given out (no offence to anyone) the clue with what people should be advising can be seen in the original starting post around halfway down:
Suggesting buying a DSLR such as the D50, 350d etc is silly from what I have seen so far because:
- The budget is no more than £500, even buying a D50 which is very good value, your costs will soon spiral way over £500 after budgeting in lots of memory, a telephoto zoom, the macro lens etc etc
- He is a complete novice starting out! Even admitted by himself (which is good) to get the most out of a DSLR he needs to grasp more than just different ISO settings and how much noise they produce
Not read much on a Canon S2 IS but I will be pretty certain with 10x optical zoom and many of the powerful features Canon throw into these DSLR style camera's it will be a perfect choice. Either that or a Fuji S5600 or S5900 if your daring, masses of zoom with the facility to have the high ISO you are wanting (think they go to ISO 1600 now) and have all the manual function modes you will find on a DSLR, but with the safe knowledge you don't have to go out spending hundreds more pounds on equipment you don't know a great deal about.
I had a Fuji S5500 for a year, the model down from the S5600, I resisted buying a DSLR straight off and I'm really glad I did, by the time I came to getting my 350d I had the right knowledge on shutter speeds, apertures, focal ranges as well an idea of how to frame a photo (still learning here.)
Yes, the feature set on any DSLR is impressive, and if used right outstanding images can be produced, but with many of these DSLR compacts now they can all focus super fast (my S5500 worked fine for Motorsport) and, like I say, offer enough initial challenge to keep you learning for up to a year or so if you are using it a lot.
Please don't waste your money on DSLR just yet, buy yourself a really good long range compact like those mentioned above, go out, have fun, learn about photography...then come back when you're ready to make the commitment to spending lots of your wages on gear and everyone will then be happy to fight over ISO noise and fps etc etc.
Just my thoughts,
Tom
Fireblade2K4 said:
Suggesting buying a DSLR such as the D50, 350d etc is silly from what I have seen so far because:
- The budget is no more than £500, even buying a D50 which is very good value, your costs will soon spiral way over £500 after budgeting in lots of memory, a telephoto zoom, the macro lens etc etc
- He is a complete novice starting out! Even admitted by himself (which is good) to get the most out of a DSLR he needs to grasp more than just different ISO settings and how much noise they produce
Not read much on a Canon S2 IS but I will be pretty certain with 10x optical zoom and many of the powerful features Canon throw into these DSLR style camera's it will be a perfect choice. Either that or a Fuji S5600 or S5900 if your daring, masses of zoom with the facility to have the high ISO you are wanting (think they go to ISO 1600 now) and have all the manual function modes you will find on a DSLR, but with the safe knowledge you don't have to go out spending hundreds more pounds on equipment you don't know a great deal about.
I had a Fuji S5500 for a year, the model down from the S5600, I resisted buying a DSLR straight off and I'm really glad I did, by the time I came to getting my 350d I had the right knowledge on shutter speeds, apertures, focal ranges as well an idea of how to frame a photo (still learning here.)
Yes, the feature set on any DSLR is impressive, and if used right outstanding images can be produced, but with many of these DSLR compacts now they can all focus super fast (my S5500 worked fine for Motorsport) and, like I say, offer enough initial challenge to keep you learning for up to a year or so if you are using it a lot.
Please don't waste your money on DSLR just yet, buy yourself a really good long range compact like those mentioned above, go out, have fun, learn about photography...then come back when you're ready to make the commitment to spending lots of your wages on gear and everyone will then be happy to fight over ISO noise and fps etc etc.
Just my thoughts,
Tom
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I have to say, Tom and Cykey speak a lot of sense. The £500 budget will allow for an S2 (or even a new S3) and cash for cards/case etc and some money left over to actually go some places and experiment with the camera.
Both the A95 and S2/S3 have full manual controls and will allow you to develop your skills, learn how the camera works when not in point-and-click mode and also develop your own style of photography so that when/if you decide to go for a DSLR, you know what kind of kit you're looking for, to acheive what you want to acheive. Both the A95 and S2 have strengths and weaknesses, but they're both fine cameras, take excellent creative shots and can complement each other as your experience and skills develop. The consistent menu system across the cameras also allows you to worry more about the image you're capturing than where setting "X" is on the menus etc when swapping between the two.
Practice lots, take lots and post them here for (generally well-meaning) critique and then, once you feel that you're ready for a DSLR (and I guess that by posting this in the first place, you're not convinced that you are ready yet), make the leap from an informed position to get maximum value for money. With £500 to spend on a DSLR, my concern is you may well become demoaralised by the extremely steep learning curve, disappointed by your initial efforts and become disillusioned by your purchase. With the A95/S2 route, you can still take great shots in P mode (or even auto) and enjoy yourself whist you learn how to best maximise your tools.
Both the A95 and S2/S3 have full manual controls and will allow you to develop your skills, learn how the camera works when not in point-and-click mode and also develop your own style of photography so that when/if you decide to go for a DSLR, you know what kind of kit you're looking for, to acheive what you want to acheive. Both the A95 and S2 have strengths and weaknesses, but they're both fine cameras, take excellent creative shots and can complement each other as your experience and skills develop. The consistent menu system across the cameras also allows you to worry more about the image you're capturing than where setting "X" is on the menus etc when swapping between the two.
Practice lots, take lots and post them here for (generally well-meaning) critique and then, once you feel that you're ready for a DSLR (and I guess that by posting this in the first place, you're not convinced that you are ready yet), make the leap from an informed position to get maximum value for money. With £500 to spend on a DSLR, my concern is you may well become demoaralised by the extremely steep learning curve, disappointed by your initial efforts and become disillusioned by your purchase. With the A95/S2 route, you can still take great shots in P mode (or even auto) and enjoy yourself whist you learn how to best maximise your tools.
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I've just been looking at the Canon Powershot S2 IS and the S3 IS, I like the features of the S3 especially as it does ISO 800 and has 36-432mm lens as standard anyone had any experience with this camera or know anywhere I can go to for some in depth reviews of it and also see the quality of the pictures it will produce?
Thanks and I do appreciate all the info being given here.
Stu
Thanks and I do appreciate all the info being given here.
Stu
Deleted member 11679
Deleted member 11679
Canon S2 IS samples can be viewed here:
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_s2_is
With regards the S3 I couldn't find the sample page on Pbase but I am sure the S2 will give you enough idea of what its going to achieve
Remember:- Most of how the photo will turn out is down to the Photographers skill, cannot always judge just from samples.
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_s2_is
With regards the S3 I couldn't find the sample page on Pbase but I am sure the S2 will give you enough idea of what its going to achieve
Remember:- Most of how the photo will turn out is down to the Photographers skill, cannot always judge just from samples.
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S3 is very new, so there's not a lot of reviews out, if any. Check the Canon Talk forums on DPReviews for news and user feedback. Should be in the UK in May, and it'd appear you should expect to pay about £350-400 when it hits the online retailers.
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Think I'm going to wait a while for a review of one of the S3's looks like a very good camera indeed, some shots I've seen from the S2 are amazing and the macro mode is also excellent, its seems to pose all the features I want at the moment and a nice LONG zoom 
Stu
Stu